Surgical Tumor Removal in Cats

Surgical tumor removal in cats is the removal of a growth of cells from the cat’s body. A tumor is an accumulation of cells that have begun rapidly dividing in a localized area for unknown reasons. The tumor can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous), but the veterinarian may choose to have the mass removed even if the tumor does not possess a cancerous nature. The veterinarian may remove the tumor in the hospital or clinic, or refer the cat to a veterinary surgeon specialist. 

1. The feline will be administered an injectable sedative before going into the pre-surgical area. 
2. Once the feline is sedated, a member of the veterinary staff will take the feline to the pre-operative area to have an esophageal tube placed. An esophageal tube will be placed to allow oxygen and gas anesthetic to be delivered to the feline. 
3. The feline will be taken to the surgical area where she/he will be placed on the surgical table and restrained (as even anesthetized patients can move when they are in a state of “sleeping”).
4. The feline’s fur will be shaved over the affected area and scrubbed with an antimicrobial solution. 
5. The feline will be hooked up to oxygen, followed by a gas anesthetic to allow her to relax and rest comfortably without pain during the surgical procedure. 
6. The area around the tumor will be draped with surgical cloth and the tumor removal will begin. 
7. The veterinary surgeon will use a scalpel blade to remove the tumor and possible the surrounding tissue depending on the feline’s surgical plan. 
8. Once the tumor has been removed, it will likely be prepared for a biopsy to further diagnose the nature of the growth. 
9. The open area of the cat’s skin will be cleaned and the veterinarian will place sutures as needed internally, followed by skin closure. 
10. The feline will be removed from gas anesthetic and gas anesthetic as soon as the anesthetist is positive the cat’s vital signs (heart rate, breathing rate, temperature) are normal. 
11. The esophageal tube will be removed and the feline will be allowed to recover in a quiet area. 

The efficacy of surgical tumor removal depends on the individual cat and the nature of the tumor. In general, removing any tumor (cancerous or non-cancerous) will prevent the surrounding tissues and organs from being affected, resulting in secondary health issues. If the feline’s tumor is cancerous, removing the tumor will ideally remove the cancer and prevent the cancer from spreading. Ask your veterinarian about the efficacy of surgically removing your cat’s tumor and the probability of a positive outcome. 

Surgical tumor removal in cats may require a period of hospitalization after the surgery. During this time, the veterinary staff will monitor the feline and administer pain management medications paired with antibiotics to prevent infection. Once the feline is allowed to return home, her/his physical activities will be restricted and an Elizabethan collar will likely be worn to prevent the feline from ripping out the stitches. Prescribed medications will continue at home as directed by the veterinarian. 

The estimated cost of a surgical tumor removal in cats will include the pre-surgical biopsies that were taken to establish the nature of the tumor, which will cost a cat owner around $50. The size of the tumor will also be taken into consideration, as larger tumors will cost more to have removed than small tumors. A small tumor that is no greater than one inch in diameter will cost approximately $125, whereas a medium sized tumor of one to three inches could cost about $325. A large tumor may cost $525 or more to have removed and an extra large tumor, greater than five inches will cost $725 or more depending on the surgical procedure. 

Your cat will need to be placed under anesthetic for the duration of the surgical removal of the tumor, as well as, any biopsy procedures that were completed prior to the surgery date. The removal of a tumor will completely remove the fast-growing, potentially cancerous tumor from the feline’s body, however, recurrence is possible. It is important to discuss the outcome of the surgical tumor removal in your cat with the veterinarian. 

As scholars are still researching how cancer is developing he feline body and why it affecting so many of our pets today, the information available believed to prevent a tumor from growing is not always effective. Most veterinarians recommend a healthy, balanced diet and daily exercise to prevent the chances of feline tumor development. However, even the healthiest of felines can be affected by tumors despite the active work of the pet owner.